The Nations League will become the third major international competition after the World Cup and European Championship from 2018, running every two years. The precise format of it has yet to be finalised but Uefa’s current plan is to divide its 54 member countries into four divisions, themselves sub-divided into four pools of three or four teams. All of Europe’s best nations would be in the top division, which will contain between 12 and 16 teams. Pool matches would be played between September and November 2018, with the winners of the top division pools qualifying for a "Final Four" tournament at the start of 2019. There will be promotion and relegation, while play-off places for the European Championship will also be on offer.

How will it affect other international matches?

Uefa has confirmed that qualifying for the European Championship will begin in the March after a World Cup, rather than in the September of the previous year, freeing up space for the new competition. The same may need to apply to World Cup qualifiers. Friendlies will be curtailed, Uefa having decided they compound the decline in prestige endured by international football in recent years. Friendlies will not disappear altogether, however.

That is open to debate. Uefa is determined to restore international football to the pinnacle of the game, which is ironic as it has arguably done the most to diminish its appeal. The Champions League has now surpassed even the World Cup in terms of the quality of football on show, while Uefa has diluted the standard of its own flagship international tournament, the European Championship, by expanding the finals from 16 to 24 teams.

So this is all about improving football?

Don’t be naïve. There is a clear financial incentive to creating a new ‘brand’ in the international game. England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, France and Portugal playing on a more regular basis – in a competitive environment – will clearly be far more lucrative than the status quo. Expect television companies and sponsors to fall over themselves to be associated with the concept.

Any possible drawbacks?

There is a strong argument that modern football already places too many demands on players and another competition will only increase those. It will be interesting to hear the reaction of Premier League managers to Uefa’s plans and also whether Fifa or players’ unions have any concerns. The advantage of friendlies is that there is less pressure on international managers to pick tired or injured players, there is more scope for experimentation and games can be arranged against teams whose style is suited to upcoming opponents in qualifiers or tournaments.